Saturday, June 30, 2012

Oshiomhole escapes death again

The Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole on Thursday escaped death for the second time when unknown gunmen attacked his convey on his way from Usen to Benin.

Mr Oshiomhole had paid a visit to the Onogie of Usen, His Royal Highness Oluogbe II at his palace and was on his way back when the incident occurred.

In a press statement, the state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Louis Odion, confirmed the incident.

“At about 6pm local time, Governor Oshiomhole’s convoy left the palace. It had not travelled too far down the road when it ran into a barricade. Naturally, the security details attached to the governor came down to remove the bar. As they were clearing the [place], tens of heavily armed thugs emerged from nowhere and opened fire on the governor for several seconds,” the statement reads.

The statement said that the governor was able to escape the attack unhurt.

“… dutifully, the brave security details attached to the governor, supported by an additional contingent of regular policemen deployed to maintain law and order, rose to the occasion. They were able to shield the governor, key government functionaries and others including leaders of Edo Action Congress of Nigeria to safety without sustaining any human casualties”.

Several cars in the convoy were riddled with bullets.

In April, Mr Oshiomhole had escaped a ghastly motor accident involving his motorcade and a tipper lorry on the Afuze-Auchi Road in Edo North Senatorial District of Edo state.

The governor had gone to receive defectors from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, to his party the Action Congress of Nigeria, in Afuze, the headquarters of Owan East Local Government of the state and was returning to Benin City when the accident occurred.

Three journalists in the governor’s convoy including Olatunji Jacobs, George Okosun both of Independent Television (ITV) Benin City and Fidelis Ohani of African Independent Television (AIT) and the bus driver lost their lives in the accident.